Aged care news highlights from the week ending 1 April 2022, aggregated by CompliSpace.

The information in the Weekly Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that is relevant to the aged care sector across Australia and worldwide. Each paragraph is a summary of the subject matter covered in the particular news article. The information does not necessarily reflect the views of CompliSpace.

Budget News

An overview of the 2022 Budget and what it means for aged care

According to Inside Ageing, as part of the over $18.8 billion Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety response, the Australian Government is committing an additional $389.4 million over four years in the 2022–23 Budget towards residential aged care quality and safety.

Aged Care Alert: Aged Care Budget 2022-23

According to the Department of Health, key elements of the Budget 2022-23 are:

• $345.7 million to improve medication management in residential aged care facilities.
• $48.5 million for 15,000 additional aged care training places for new and existing personal care workers, to a total of 48,800 places.
• $20.1 million committed to the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN‑ACC) Transition Fund to ensure no facility receives less funding in the first two years of the new funding model compared with their current funding.
• $5.4 million to continue consultation and development of a new regulatory framework for aged care.
• $6.1 million to continue the rollout of regionally focused Department of Health staff in Primary Health Network regions.

Budget includes some AN-ACC detail but slim pickings overall

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Federal Budget reveals the starting price of the residential aged care subsidy under the new funding model but omits any intention to fund a pay rise for workers.

Aged care workers biggest losers in Federal Budget

According to Aged Care Guide, the 2022/23 Federal Budget has not delivered for aged care workers and has left many organisations and groups disappointed with the outcome for the sector, even after industry bodies called for funding increases to better support the workforce and the older people they care for.

Funding to embed pharmacists in aged care

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, from next year, Australia’s pharmacists will play an even more active role in dispensing medicines within the country’s residential aged care facilities. The Federal Government has announced it has earmarked $345.7 million over four years to embed pharmacists in aged care homes. Under the measure, every government funded residential aged care facility will be able to employ or engage an on-site pharmacist or community pharmacy services from 1 January 2023.

2022 Budget: Training boost for workers but no wage increase

According to Aged Care Insite, Tuesday’s federal budget directed $49.5 million dollars to training for aged care workers despite repeated industry calls to increase wages.

Budget progresses aged care reforms, says COTA0

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, while yesterday’s Federal Budget contained few surprises for the aged care sector, overall, it further advances the royal commission reforms, Council on the Ageing Australia chief executive Ian Yates told Australian Ageing Agenda. “The package as a whole continues to develop the reform process,” said Mr Yates. “We did not expect a lot of new initiatives outside the pharmacist initiative that had already been announced.”

Labor pledges to improve aged care

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, a $2.5 billion package to overhaul the aged care sector was at the core of Labor’s Budget reply last night. Under the plan, unveiled in parliament by opposition leader Anthony Albanese, the Labor party committed to:

• a fully funded wage increase for workers
• registered nurses on site 24/7
• an increase in carers
• higher food standards
• more funding for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

Providers still waiting on key funding detail

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, the Budget has delivered providers an important piece in the puzzle in better understanding funding under the new model, but questions remain about whether it’s enough to meet incoming minimum staffing requirements.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 News

Too much paperwork’: aged care staff see no signs of $800 bonus

According to Aged Care Insite, a survey has found the majority of aged care workers have not received Scott Morrison’s $800 workforce bonus. A recent survey of 1,000 aged care workers done by the United Workers Union revealed that as of March, 97 per cent of workers had not been paid. More than 75 per cent also said they had heard no information about the bonus from their employers.

Aged care workers waiting on bonus, strike action planned: UWU

According to Aged Care Insite, a survey of 1000 aged care workers conducted by the United Workers Union has found that 97 per cent of respondents are yet to receive the promised $800 bonus for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The union said many of those surveyed expressed anger and resentment at the failed rollout which it blames on inadequate bureaucratic processes.

Reminder - COVID-19 Portal PPE requests

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, a reminder that from 30 March 2022, approved providers will be able to request additional PPE to support an active COVID-19 outbreak, via the COVID-19 Support Portal. An updated quick reference guide with step-by-step instructions on how to order, as well as an updated FAQ's document for the COVID-19 Support Portal, will be available shortly on the My Aged Care Resources webpage to support providers in the transition.

The COVID-19 Support Portal is accessed through the My Aged Care Provider Portal.

Updated Industry Code for Visiting in Aged Care Homes

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, the Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19 (the Code) was developed by aged care industry peaks and consumer groups, to help providers apply restrictions with care and compassion, keeping residents and their loved ones at the centre of decision making. The Code was updated on 22 March 2022.

This latest update incorporates updated definitions of an aged care exposure to COVID-19 and an aged care outbreak of COVID-19, in line with the updated CDNA guidelines.

NSW Health updated advice for RACFs

(Note: this excerpt is from the Department of Health newsletter. We cannot provide a link to the full version of this story until the Department of Health uploads it to their website.)

According to The Department of Health, the advice from NSW Health for residential aged care facilities has been updated on 25 March 2022. Summary of the key updates as follows:

• Reminder to be alert given increasing cases in community
• Updated information for visitors recommending that each visitor shows evidence of a negative RAT result taken within 24 hours of entry
• Simplified testing advice for residents leaving the facility to attend a family gathering or event
• Updated routine testing advice for staff

Please check the NSW Health website regularly for updates.

Other News

Preparing your service for winter - influenza vaccinations and treatments

According to the Department of Health, The recent Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on winter season preparedness strongly recommends that vaccination remains one of the most effective protective factors for both COVID-19 and influenza. Free influenza vaccinations are available under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for people most at risk, including all eligible residents aged 65 years and older.

From Monday 4 April 2022, influenza vaccines for the NIP will become available, subject to local supply arrangements in states and territories. More information on access to influenza vaccinations through the NIP can be found Department's website. Promotional materials including posters and brochures are available from the 2022 influenza resource collection.

What you need to do

Your service must take precautions to prevent and control influenza and minimise infection-related risks. This includes:

• identifying and complying with all relevant Commonwealth and state or territory legislation and regulatory requirements
• having an effective infection prevention and control program that is in line with national guidelines
• offering free flu vaccinations every year to your staff and volunteers and keeping records of their vaccinations.

You must also demonstrate:

• how you have promoted and informed your staff and volunteers about the benefits of vaccination, including obtaining consent
• the steps you have taken to encourage staff and volunteers to get vaccinated.

For more information, refer to the Quality of Care Principles 2014 and the Records Principles 2014. If you require assistance in organising influenza vaccinations, contact your vaccination provider or your state or territory Department of Health as soon as possible.

Aged care wages barely keeping up with cost of living

According to Aged Care Guide, a new report, part of an election campaign launched by the Australian Aged Care Collaboration (AACC), has found that the wages of aged care workers are failing to meet the cost of living in Australia.

Low food spenders reported to aged care commission

According to Australian Ageing Agenda, almost a third of aged care facilities have been referred to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission for spending less than $10 a day per resident on food, a spokesman for Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck told Australian Ageing Agenda.

Chemical Restraint Persists in Aged Care

The Australian government should end nursing homes’ use of chemical restraints to control the behavior of older people with dementia, Human Rights Watch said today. A Human Rights Watch review of non-compliance reports for aged care facilities across Australia from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, found use of chemical restraints in more than 150 aged care facilities, despite regulations first introduced in 2019 that aim to minimize the use of restrictive practices.

Half of older Victorians don't trust they will receive quality care in nursing homes

According to Aged Care Guide, the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) has released a report that found many older Victorians do not have much faith that they will receive quality care and support in an aged care facility.

Legislation

Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 2) Bill 2021 [CTH] – passed Senate with amendments 30.03.22

A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to aged care, health and aged care pricing, and information sharing in relation to veterans and military rehabilitation and compensation, and for related purposes.

Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (No. 36 of 2020) [WA] – fully commenced 31.03.22

The purpose of this Act is to make provision about, and in connection with - the health and safety of workers; and health and safety at workplaces; and risks to health and safety arising from work; and dangerous goods and high risk plant; and to make consequential and related amendments to, and repeals of, various written laws; and for related purposes.